Some phenomenal leaves can even be harvested for free.
Florist and sculptural designer Hamish Powell @hamishpowellwho selected Charli xcx to design her London bridal bouquet and selected Ottolenghi to decorate his delis for Christmas, recommends daring in your festive botanicals.
Christmas orchids by Hamish Powell
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“For a dramatic festive sculpture, I would recommend choosing one bold shape. A strong, thick streamer or a high-rising arrangement has much more impact than many small ideas.
“Then play with contrast, such as soft against textured or pale against rich tones, to make it feel intentional and striking.”
Even a handful of branches can become sculptural if carefully arranged, says Powell, whose clients include Simone Rocha and Loewe. And they can be found for free.
“My favorite festive flowers are whatever I can find in the woods behind my mother’s house. There are all kinds of treasures waiting for you. Weird moss, strange branches, delicate ferns!”
A Christmas arrangement by Hamish Powell
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When foraging, remember to eat only off the ground or with permission.
And Powell also looks to the new season daffodils that arrive in December, a reminder that spring is on the way. “I’ll put some next to my bed and saturate the room with their scent.”
Willow Crossley (@willowcrossleycreates), often called the British Queen of Flowers, agrees that the scent of bulbs is the true marker of the holidays.
“I love decorating the house with lots of forced flower bulbs; paperwhites, hyacinths and towering striped amaryllis in cloches,” she says.
A Willow Crossley tablescape
Genevieve Stevenson
“I plant huge baskets of bulbs and cover them with a velvety moss duvet so they look beautiful before they bloom. They also bring such a wonderful scent into the house.”
Lamps are an excellent option if you want long-lasting displays, and they are wonderfully cost-effective. A bag of paper white flower bulbs can produce flowers for weeks.
Plant them in old bowls or even recycled jam jars and top them with moss from the garden, florist’s scraps or preserved moss bought online.
Crossley adds layers of detail to create a sense of theater: “I also hang large spruce garlands on the fireplace with homemade cranberry garlands woven into them, strung with Christmas lights.
“Branches of holly and ivy are tucked behind paintings and gigantic balls of mistletoe with a large red velvet ribbon hang in the hallway.”
This approach feels extravagant, but you can create the look on a budget by linking inexpensive pine branches together or reusing trimmings from your tree.
Cranberry garlands make a cheerful, family-friendly craft project and require only a needle and thread.
At the Christmas table, Crossley leans towards maximalism: “Lots of layers of print from the linen, a mix of vases of different sizes running along the table, I could treat myself to some ranunculus, anemones and paperwhites.
“I tend to go for a full color or a very subdued green and white vibe. Nothing in between! I recommend lots of candlelight, gold-painted nuts and chocolate coins scattered throughout the vases.”
Gold-sprayed walnuts are one of the simplest decorative tricks: use leftover spray paint from another project, or choose a small pot of eco-friendly metallic paint.
Fresh, contemporary festive flowers from Christie Leigh Chung
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Christie Leigh Chung, the fashion set’s favorite florist, with clients including Byredo, Dior, Burberry and Victoria Beckham (@christie.leigh.floral) gives a fresh, contemporary touch to her festive flowers.
“We take Christmas very seriously in our house, but I always try to avoid the usual festive clichés,” she tells me.
Her preference for sculptural softness is reflected in her choice of greenery: “I often work with beautiful conifers or Pinus strobus – they have a sculptural softness that feels both wintery and sublime.
“Combined with simple, oversized luxury ribbons, the result is striking, modern and distinctly natural. It’s such an effortless combination, but always makes the most beautiful impact.”
Oversized ribbon is one of the fastest ways to lift foliage
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Oversized ribbon is one of the quickest ways to take a simple bunch of leaves to the next level. Choose a single color – deep green, burgundy or caramel all work beautifully – and let the bow be dramatic. It adds attendance at no cost.
RHS Flower Show winning garden designer Butter Wakefield (@butterwakefield) believes that Christmas decorating starts with embracing nature in all its wild glory.
“For me, the most important thing is to have a wide variety of different pines, firs, lichen-covered twigs and a variety of eucalyptus, all arranged in a tangled, overflowing way in nice old buckets or something similar,” she says.
“Volume is critical for an opulent, lavish Christmas mantelpiece or front door.”
Hellebores and paper white daffodils at Butter Wakefield’s London home
Clive Nichols
A simple way to emulate Wakefield’s approach without spending too much money is to combine purchased foliage with found finds: fallen branches, wind-blown twigs, or trimmings from a local Christmas tree vendor (they often give these away).
Grouped in mismatched containers, the effect feels generous and full.
If you have a fireplace, even if it is unused, it becomes the perfect stage. Let the greenery flow over rather than sitting in neat rows. Don’t worry about perfection; Christmas decorations gain charm through irregularities.
Top tips for minimum spend, maximum impact Christmas decorations
Foliage and hellebores arranged in Butter Wakefield’s London home
Clive Nichols
- Use what you have: Old jugs, vintage bottles and leftover candlesticks become festive with a sprig of eucalyptus or pine wood.
- Go big with everyday greenery: Supermarket bunches of leaves, especially eucalyptus or rosemary, can be supplemented with garden cuttings
- Creating height: Spread books among vases for a dynamic tablescape
- Dry your own citrus: Thinly sliced oranges in a low oven form cheerful streamers or ornaments
- To reuse old ribbons: Crisp them with a high-speed iron and use them for tree decorations or mantle bows
- Let scent carry the mood: A bowl of cloves, cinnamon sticks and pine cones feels festive before you’ve added a single bauble
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